Door-closing device



Feb. 3. 1925.

F. J. VAN ARNHEM DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1923 INVENTOR. afar/1 V42? flrzz 5cm.

ATTbRNEYS Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

FRANK J. VAN ARNHEM, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

DOOR-CLOSING DEVICE.

Application filed September 24, 1923. Serial No. 664,481. 7

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. VAN ARN- HEM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lakewood, county of (luyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained, and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to a door-closing device. More particularly it comprises a simple appliance to be attached to the inside face of a door and the adjacent face of its supporting structure on the side of the door opposite to the hinges thereof and serving to swing the door to its closed position.

While of general application the device is of particular utility in connection with the doors of automobiles.

It is well known that much difliculty has been encountered in preventing injury to the doors of automobiles when passing into and out of the garage or through other narrow passageways. This is particularly true in connection with closed cars and it has been sought to avoid the diflioulties, to some extent, by swinging the doors from the forward side of the car body rather than upon the rearward position thereof. However, when the doors are swung from the forward side of the frame if the car is backed out of the garage while the door is in open position the door will be seriously damaged. It has, therefore, been found desirable to provide a door-closing means for swinging the doors to their closed position when they are not positively held in open position.

It is common practice to provide a check strap on the inside of doors to prevent their being swung outwardly to too great an extent. This strap usually comprises a heavy fabric material securely fastened at each of its ends to bracket members, secured respectively to the door and its adjacent supporting member. As will be hereinafter pointed out, this invention combines with a door check strap resilient means for swinging the door to closed position.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully clescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconsrtituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. In said annexed drawing v Fig. 1 is the front elevation of the doorclosing device. Fig. 2 is the end elevation thereof and; Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, showing the application thereof to the door of an automobile. 7

As is clearly illustrated in the drawing a pair of bracket members 1, 2, are attached respectively to the door, 3, and frame, 4, by

means of screws, 5, or other suitable fastening devices. Such supporting elements are preferably provided with a central cylindrical section, 6, of reduced diameter, held in spaced relation to the adjacent surface to which said brackets are attached, by means i of angular terminal elements, 7, which are tapered outwardly adjacent the cylindrical central portions, and serve as lateral guides for the fabric and rubber strap elements presently to be described.

The door is supported upon its adjacent frame member by means of suitable hinges, 8, of standard construction.

Upon the cylindrical portions of the brackets a pair of continuous bands are supported. These bands comprise an outer band, 11, of fabric, preferably of heavy inelastic fabric, and a continuous band, 12, preferably of rubber or other elastic material. Band 12 is located immediately within the band 11 and is preferably placed under a certain degree of tension when the device is applied to the door and its supporting structure.

Thus, in applying the device to an automobile the brackets are attached in vertical position to the inside of the car adjacent the door and to the inner side of the door with suflicient space between them to insure acertain degree of tension upon the rubber strap. When the door is opened to approximately an angle of degrees to the body of the car the fabric strap will be brought firmly against the cylindrical portion of the two bracket, members and prevent further outward movement of the door. The rubber increasing degree of tension and will tend tion with a. slow swinging motion which Will not injure anyone coming into contact with the moving door. Should it be desired to vary the tension upon the device this may be readily accomplished by changing the. position of the brackets or by. substituting, different lengths. offabric and elastic straps upon. said brackets.

The device is of extremely. simple. construction. and maybe readily. applied .to antomobilesin general use. Vhensoapplied, if desired, the usual door oheckstraps may be omitted and such device used in: lieu thereof.

Other forms be employed embodying the features of my invention instead of the one. here explained change being. made in the form or construction, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or theequivalent-of such stated. elements be employed.

I- therefore particularly. point out and distinctly claim as ny invention zel. A. combined check and closing device for doors comprising a pair of bracket-elemerits attached. respectively to a. door and itssupport-ing member upon the side opposite the hinges, an outer and inner loop engaged over said brackets, said outer loop being formed-of inelastic material of greater length than the normal space between said brackets when the door is in closed position, and saidinnerloop being formed of elastic material and being placed under tension when said door isin open. position.

2. A combined check. and. closing device "For doors. comprising a; of bracket ele ments each. having.cylindrieah central portions and angular. terminal :members adapted to. space said central: portions from the sur face. to. whichsaid brackets are. attached,. an outer and inner loopeengaged oversaid. cylindrical portions of said brackets said. outer loop being formed 01. inelastic fabric material .ofgrea ter length than the; normal space between said brackets when. the door is in closed position, andsaidinner loop being formed. of. elastic material and. bein placed under tension when saidI d-oor is. in open position.

Signed'byme this 19th .day of September, 1923;

FRANK J. VAN ARN EM. 

